Horse Eden : Hudie x NightClan

Jora had been lost in the steady rhythm of the market, caught up in the soothing motions of the morning, the laughter of children echoing in the distance, the soft weight of her daughter still nestled in the carrier against her chest. The world felt so far from the turmoil of the past few months, as if she was being carried gently toward something new, something hopeful. The air smelled of fresh bread and herbs, and she was only half-conscious of the sounds around her, lost in the warmth of the moment.

But then there was a crash, a loud clatter that pulled her sharply out of the fog of contentment. She turned instinctively toward the source of the sound, her eyes narrowing as they fell on the figure just outside the tavern. A man—no, Sage. He was sprawled awkwardly on the ground, blood seeping from a wound, his face grimacing in pain as he struggled to right himself, still half-drunk and not fully aware of his surroundings.

Jora’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at Sage, her breath catching in her throat. It was like seeing a ghost, but a ghost that was still breathing, still clinging to life in a way she couldn’t quite comprehend. She had thought him dead. She had believed, with every inch of her being, that the storm had swallowed him up, that the wreck had claimed him for good. And yet here he was—alive, broken, and unrecognizable.

Her hand trembled slightly as it rested on his shoulder, her fingers pressing down as if grounding herself, making sure this wasn’t some cruel hallucination. His eyes were bloodshot, unfocused, and there was no recognition there—just pain, frustration, and that same lost look she remembered from the last time she saw him. But he was here. And she wasn’t sure if that was a blessing or a curse.

But the most striking thing, the thing that made her breath catch again, was the child she was still sleeping in the carrier. The daughter she hadn’t been able to even fully process bringing into the world, the daughter who had arrived just over a week ago, just after the wreck. She hadn’t had time to grieve, hadn’t had time to think—just a flood of emotions, and then a baby to care for, a new life that needed her.

She had moved on, in the quietest, most guarded way she knew how. She had settled into this new life, this delicate balance of motherhood and survival. Selene had been there—steadfast and strong. But now, seeing Sage—seeing him in front of her, looking like a broken version of the man she once knew—it felt like a wound she didn’t even know was still raw had been ripped open again.

She swallowed hard, the weight of it all pressing down on her chest. Her daughter stirred in the carrier, the faintest sound escaping her lips, a soft cooing noise that snapped Jora back to the present. She glanced down, her fingers instinctively adjusting the blanket around the baby, ensuring she was still safe, still comfortable.

Sage was here, but her daughter was with her. This tiny, fragile life was in her care. She couldn’t lose sight of that, not even for a moment.

Sage’s eyes flickered, and he turned his face away from her touch, his lips curling in a sneer as though he didn’t recognize her, or worse, didn’t want to. She wasn’t sure which was worse—the fact that he didn’t remember, or the possibility that he did and still felt nothing.

“Please, Sage,” she said, her voice trembling but strong, “you need help. Just let me—” She stopped herself, suddenly struck by the absurdity of the situation. What was she doing here? He was a ghost she should have buried months ago, yet here he was, wrecking the fragile peace she’d managed to build.

But she couldn’t walk away. Not when he needed her. Not when it felt like there was still something between them that refused to die.

With a deep breath, Jora helped him sit up, feeling the weight of his body slump against her, his head lolling slightly. His body was too heavy, too unsteady for her to manage alone, and she couldn’t risk dropping him

Jora shifted, her hands now steadying Sage as he slumped against her. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, but one thought above all others pressed through the fog—she couldn’t do this alone, not with Sage in this state, not with her daughter still nestled in her arms.

She glanced up quickly, catching sight of Selene across the bustling market, her attention still occupied with a stall nearby. Jora’s heart hammered in her chest as she made a split-second decision. This was no place to have a conversation about ghosts or the past, not with everything happening around them. She needed help, and she needed it now.

“Selene!” Jora called, her voice cutting through the sounds of the market as she shifted slightly to keep her daughter settled against her chest. The small movement caused the baby to stir, but she was still asleep, thank goodness.

Selene’s head snapped up at the sound of her name, her eyes scanning the scene, and when she caught sight of Jora’s strained expression, her steps quickened. She was at Jora’s side in an instant, her gaze flicking between Sage and Jora, her face falling in concern.

“What happened?” Selene asked, her voice low, barely above a whisper. But there was no need for explanation; the sight of Sage slumped, covered in blood, told the story clearly enough.

“His wound,” Jora said, trying to keep her voice even despite the panic creeping up her throat. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "It's bad. He needs someone to tend to it. I can't do it here with the baby. Can you—get someone? Anyone who can help?"

“Of course,” Selene replied without hesitation, her tone sharp and efficient now. She gave Jora a reassuring nod before turning on her heel, looking around the market for someone who might be able to help. She didn’t waste a moment, moving swiftly toward a nearby stall where a man with a healer’s kit had set up shop.

Jora stayed with Sage, her hand still resting on his shoulder, her heart pounding. She had to keep him conscious. Had to keep him here, for however long it would take. Her daughter was still in her arms, completely unaware of the intensity of the situation, the drama unfolding around them. Jora kept her focus sharp, ensuring the baby was safe and calm, even as the past collided with her present in ways she hadn’t been prepared for.

“Just hold on, Sage,” Jora murmured quietly, her voice softer now, as if speaking to herself as much as to him. “Help’s coming. You’re going to be okay.”

But she didn’t know if that was true. She didn’t know if he was going to be okay. The only thing she could do now was wait.

Hudie x NightClan

January 25, 2025 11:04 PM

NightClan

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The world was swirling when the woman had stormed off, leaving him there, no doubt uncaring whether he lived or died. She had plenty of others, and he was cheap. She'd bought him for nearly nothing, and he'd made her thousands while he was here. That was all she'd care about.

Then he saw another face above him. Jora. He turned his face away, not willing to look at her. It hurt too much. She was gone...it was just her memory now, in his half drunk state, that haunted him with every breath he took.

When she started speaking though, he didn't respond. He couldn't. She was dead. Gone ...a long time ago. But then she touched him. Wait...ghosts couldn't touch him. The hand on his shoulder was warm. Soft. He'd almost forgotten what that was like.

Something flickered on his eyes, and as she propped him up, he couldn't help but say against her, head looking back onto her shoulder. Even if it wasn't truly Jora...someone was here, helping him. And he did appreciate it, even if he wouldn't have minded them just leaving him here. This was a person...he was probably seeing Joras face on them. He saw the face of another woman there for a moment....was that the real person there? It was possible.

But his mind was slowing down now, breathing turning harsh and raspy as the labor of taking in air became too much. But for some reason, he couldn't just give up. He'd wanted to...so bad, for so long. He wanted to now. But something deep inside was keeping him going. Maybe it was the warm touch embracing him. Someone willing to help. He didn't know, and he was too drunk to take much in.

After some unknown amount of him, he was dimly aware of someone moving him down the street, and setting him down somewhere, on some sort of hard surface. The man held a cloth to his face, and it wasnt long after that he'd blacked out.

He woke up later in a comfortable bed, dressed in regular clothes. Not the thin, skimpy rags he'd been forced to wear for so long, but a comfortable tunic and trousers. They were big, but he was near Star ed so it made sense. But the first thing that hit him was how peaceful it was. Something wasn't right.

He struggled to sit up with a frown, honestly just...confused. Scared too, if he was being completely honest with himself. He didn't know where he was, or what was going on. Though, when he caught sight of Jora in the corner he froze, sinking back to the bed with a heavy sigh. "You never can leave me alone can you," he sort of got out, shaking his head. Would he never be free of her ghost? "You're dead. I get it. Just...leave me alone," he added, closing his eyes painfully as the memories started to flow back in.

He should be glad to be here. To feel...ok. His body was wrecked pretty badly, he could see that...but evidently there was something in his system, because he didn't hurt much at all. He was comfortable. More comfortable than he'd been in a long time. But right now? All he wanted was a nice strong bottle. That would do the trick.

Hudie x NightClan

January 25, 2025 11:17 PM

Hudie

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Jora sat next to him, watching him closely. She kept one eye on the baby carrier in front of her, one on Sage. She didn’t respond immediately, letting him speak, letting him process whatever was happening. The way he sank back, defeated, only made her ache more. Tears formed in her eyes, the shock and disbelief that he was here, in a horrible state, but here.

Her hand moved slightly, but she held herself still, resisting the urge to rush over. She needed him to see what was in front of him—what he *could* have, even if he couldn't understand it right now. But when he finally spoke again, her breath caught.

"You never can leave me alone, can you?" His voice was raw, and there was a certain kind of weariness that she recognized in it. Not just physical, but deep down, like he was a thread already unraveled. The quiet grief in his tone was like a knife to her chest. She had never wanted him to carry that weight.

The words that came next, though, stung. "*You're dead. I get it. Just...leave me alone.*"

Dead. It wasn’t the first time someone had said that to her, but hearing him say it like that... it hurt in ways she couldn’t quite describe. *I’m not dead, though,* she wanted to tell him. But she couldn’t. Not when he was in this state.

She wanted to say something, anything that would make him see reason, but all she could manage was a soft, “I’m not going anywhere, you know.”

There was a vulnerability in his eyes, and a part of her wondered if, deep down, he might want someone to stay. Maybe not her—not like this—but someone. He’d been abandoned too many times for her to not see the scars.

“I’m not leaving,” she repeated, quieter now, her voice almost gentle. "I just... want to help." She let the silence hang in the air between them, her words lingering. Would he believe her? Or would he push her away like he had everyone else?

Maybe she couldn’t fix everything. Maybe she couldn’t even fix him. But she wasn’t going to let go of him again. Not now. Not ever.

Her eyes flickered to the bottle near his bed and she raised an eyebrow, soft amusement in her gaze. "You really think a bottle’s gonna fix this?" she asked, her voice surprisingly light, like she was trying to coax a smile from him. "You and I both know it won’t."

Edited at January 25, 2025 11:21 PM by Hudie

Hudie x NightClan

January 25, 2025 11:38 PM

NightClan

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Sage just squeezed his eyes tighter when she spoke, though his brows furrowed as he tried desperately to understand. Ghosts couldn't talk either. This was too much...too confusing. First he could feel her, now she was talking to him. He didn't understand. He wanted to...but he just couldn't figure out what the hell was happening.

At her comment about the bottle, a small, bitter laugh escaped his lips. "Fix? No. Nothing can fix this," he noted, moving his gaze back to...her. whatever she was. "But it blocks out most of it," he added with a heavy breath, just watching her with a weary gaze.

He wasn't sure how she was talking to him. Ghosts didn't do that. This was making his brain hurt. "Where are we," he asked eventually, frowning slightly as he looked around. "If I'm dead too I was hoping it wouldn't still be like this in my head," he noted, clearly not opposed to being dead. Though, if he was dead, he wished he eother didn't remember anything or this really was Jora, and they could be together in the afterlife. But without him grieving about her. Which he was still doing. She was still dead....right?

But she was right there. Warm, and speaking to him. He didn't want to hope ..he knew it was foolish. But could it really be her? She was strong...stronger than him. She always had been. Was there a chance she had survived? But how could he be sure this wasn't his imagination playing some cruel trick on him again?

Hudie x NightClan

January 26, 2025 12:46 PM

Hudie

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Jora’s heart tightened when she heard him speak again, the bitter edge in his voice stabbing deeper than she’d expected. It was clear he was lost, tangled in the web of his own grief and confusion. And that laugh—so hollow, so defeated—made her stomach twist. He was unraveling, and she didn’t know how to stop it. Not when she couldn’t make him see her for what she truly was.

"You’re not dead," she said, but even she heard how uncertain she sounded, like she was trying to convince herself as much as him. He was alive, wasn’t he? He had to be. But how did she explain this—this moment, this connection—without sounding crazy?

When he asked where they were, she felt her chest tighten in sympathy. "We’re in the clinic," she said quietly. "You’re safe here, Sage. I promise." But even as she spoke, she saw the doubt in his eyes, the disbelief. And when he talked about being dead, there was nothing she could do but reach out a hand, hovering just near him, like she was afraid he might disappear if she touched him.

The soft click of footsteps on the tile behind her made her glance over her shoulder. Selene was there, rushing in with a doctor trailing just behind her. Jora’s breath caught as they approached, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t take her eyes off of Sage, who still looked so lost, so broken.

The doctor was quick, efficient, but careful as he checked Sage over. Jora stayed silent, watching him, her gaze never leaving Sage’s face. She felt that tight knot in her chest grow heavier as she observed the tension in his body, the exhaustion in his eyes. Whatever had happened to him, whatever he had been through, it had left marks deeper than she could see.

"Everything looks stable for now," the doctor said, but there was an undercurrent of concern in his tone. He was too calm, too practiced, for Jora to not hear the unspoken worry.

Jora took a slow, steady breath, trying to keep herself together. She had to. For him. "I’m not going anywhere, Sage," she said again, though she wasn’t sure if it would do any good. Maybe the words were more for her than for him, but she said them anyway, hoping that some small part of him could hold on to that.

As the doctor continued his work, Jora gently brushed her fingers through the air, just inches from Sage’s arm. She wasn’t sure if he could feel her presence—if he could feel her touch—but she needed him to know she was here. And maybe...maybe that was enough.

"When you recover, you can meet your daughter" she adds quietly, not wanting to risk her daughter when Sage was in such an unstable mindset. It wasn't that she didn't trust Sage, but he was drunk, and drunk men tended to do stupid things.

Hudie x NightClan

January 26, 2025 01:55 PM

NightClan

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Sage blinked in confusion when she said he wasn't dead. Well. That made things even more confusing. He sort of peered down at his body, which definitely looked like it should be hurting. But it wasn't. He felt almost fine, though he knew he wasn't. "Not dead," he restated, brows pinching together as he tried to figure it out. So he was alive....but Jora was talking to him.

He nodded slowly as she mentioned the clinic. Well, that was why he didn't hurt. He probably had a crap ton of medicine in him at the moment. He flinched backwards when more people swung into the room, the sudden noise causing him to wince as his head pounded.

He cooperated with the doctor, though he was definitely nervous about....he didn't even know what. People? The other woman maybe. He wasn't sure.

Though, when Jora mentioned the daughter, he whipped his head around to stare at her. He couldn't make that up....he hadn't known the gender of their child. "Daughter," he noted quietly, some spark of hope forming in his eyes. He was scared...terrified to think she was truly here. To hope for that. But....he couldn't imagine something he didn't know was a thing. "Are...are you real," he asked, sort of reaching for her

Hudie x NightClan

January 26, 2025 03:13 PM

Hudie

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Jora watched him closely, her heart aching as his confusion twisted into something deeper. She could see the flicker of hope in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by doubt and fear. She could understand that—hell, she felt it too. She wasn’t even sure she believed this was real.

His voice was almost a whisper when he asked, "Are...are you real?" Her breath caught in her throat as she took a step forward, not quite sure if she was doing the right thing but unable to stop herself. She didn’t want to overwhelm him, but he looked so lost, so...far away.

"I'm real," she said, her voice steady even though her heart was anything but. She reached out carefully, her fingers brushing his. "I swear to you, I’m real." She could feel the warmth of his skin, the way his hand trembled slightly as he reached for her. That gave her hope. It meant that this—whatever this was—wasn’t a dream. Not for her, at least.

Her gaze softened as she continued, "And yes, we have a daughter. She's safe, Sage. She's waiting for you."

It was all so much to process, so much to ask of him, but she had no choice. She had to keep pushing through, for him, for them. "You’re not alone," she whispered. "I’m here. We’re here."

She hoped that he could hear the truth in her voice. She prayed it would make sense to him, even just a little bit.

Hudie x NightClan

January 26, 2025 03:42 PM

NightClan

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Sage felt his breath hitch when she spoke up again, dimly aware of the other two people sliding quietly out of the room now that the doctor was done with his work. He was still so scared it would all turn out to be a trick.....a figment of his imagination. But no....she'd taken his hand. She was here. Physically, she was here. He closed his fingers around her hand almost heasitantly, trembling. Damn, he was falling apart. But she was here...truly here. Alive. And they had a daughter. Safe and well.

But that meant he'd been a pretty terrible ...whatever he was to her. Boyfriend? That didn't seem like it quite covered it. But he should have done something. Should have fought harder, rebelled against the tavern owner. He felt his eyes well up with tears and just shook his head, not sure what to say. Instead of trying to find her or hoping she was alive, he'd let himself be sold around and had settled for sleeping around in a drunken stupor. "God Jora....I'm so sorry," he breathed, voice breaking.

He'd started to reach for her face, to hold her, but had drawn back, heasitant. Did she even want him now? He'd messed up pretty badly...and now he'd have to get used to not drinking again. He'd be flighty, and would probably have nightmares and not sleep and....well, he was just a mess.

Her comment about being here with him though, brought his gaze back up to meet hers, though his vision was still blurry with tears. "How," he sort of whispered, shaking his head. "I saw the wreck. There was nothing there," he added. How had she survived? Was she ok? What had happened? He could feel his body betraying him, dragging him to sleep as the meds took a hold of him and the tension released from his shoulders a bit. But he needed to know what happened. If she and the baby were ok.

Hudie x NightClan

January 26, 2025 05:20 PM

Hudie

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Jora took in a shaky breath, watching him struggle with the weight of the years, the guilt, the pain. He looked so lost, so fragile, it broke her heart in ways she didn’t know were possible. She couldn’t imagine what he’d been through, the self-loathing that had probably eaten him alive all this time. But she had never blamed him. Not truly. Not when she knew the hell he'd been through before, the way life had stolen everything from them both.

The way he was holding her hand now was tentative, like he was afraid she might slip away again if he squeezed too tightly. But she wasn’t going anywhere. She wasn’t leaving him, not this time. Not ever.

She reached up, her fingers brushing the edge of his jaw, wiping away a stray tear as she looked into his eyes. “Sage,” she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. “You didn’t know. You couldn’t have known... I managed to swim to shore, where my contractions started”

Her gaze shifted, thoughts momentarily drifting to the wreckage, the explosion that had swallowed everything, everyone—her, the world around her. How she'd ended up surviving was a mystery that had haunted her since she’d woken up in that strange, dark place. The memories were hazy, fragmented. But there was one truth that had stayed with her since she first opened her eyes. She wasn’t going to let him suffer alone anymore.

She swallowed hard, her thumb brushing his skin, tracing his features like she could memorize the feel of him all over again.

Her fingers pressed against his cheek, coaxing him to meet her gaze. “The wreck... there was nothing left of it. I know. But I’m here. And so is our daughter. She's safe. You have to believe me, Sage. She’s all right.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and it took all her strength not to let the tears that had gathered in her eyes fall. She wasn’t going to break down now, not when he needed her to be strong. Not when they had this moment—this fragile moment of connection.

“I don’t care what you did, what you didn’t do. I’m not angry with you, Sage.” She shook her head, her lips curling into a small, sad smile. “I just want to be here with you. And with her. That’s all. We have time now. We can figure the rest out together.”

She drew his hand back up to her chest, pressing it against her heart. “We’ll take it one step at a time. Together.”

Hudie x NightClan

January 26, 2025 05:58 PM

NightClan

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Sage was trembling as he listenef to Jora speak. Her words were soft...quiet, knowing his head was spinning and there was just so much to take in all at once. He appreciated it. And he couldn't express how much he appreciated her having forgiven him for whatever he'd done at that tavern.

He closed his eyes momentarily when she wiped the tear from his face, then opened them again, not wanting to fall asleep. Not yet. He'd just gotten her back, after all....and he'd never imagined that would have happened. "One step at a time," he managed to get out, agreeing with her quietly.

It wouldn't be easy...he knew that. His recovery would be a long one, and the guilt that promised to overcome him would stick with him for a long time. He wasn't sure when he'd be ready to be intimate again, even with her. He just....wasn't sure of so much. But he was sure that Jora was here, by some miracle, and that she would stay here with him. With their baby girl.

He wanted to meet her so badly...but he was still not entirely sober, and he could feel himself dropping slowly into sleep no matter how hard he was fighting to stay awake. So he would wait until he woke again to meet her. That would be safer for her. Besides....he wanted to have his mind fully about him when he met her for the first time.

He couldn't stay awake any longer though, as his body went limp on the bed, eyes fluttering closed. "Don't leave," he managed to get out to Jora, before he'd passed out again. He wasn't sure if she'd heard him or not ...but he didn't think she'd want to leave anyway. Not if she didn't have to.

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